Engraving machines



Feb. 23, 1960 w. owEN ENGRAVING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 30, 1955 INVENTOR. WML OW' WSS/wk Feb. 23, 1960 w. owEN 2,925,756

ENGRAVING MACHINES Filed June 5o, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 In!" WI JNVENToR.

BY Mui S. SMA/Va United States Patent O "F 2,925,156 `EisiGRAvlNG MACHINES Wilhelm Owen, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, assigner to Franz Kuhlmann, Sr., sole proprietor of The Kommandit-Gesellschaft Franz Kuhlmann, Wilhelmshaven, Germany This invention relates to engravingmachines, more particularly to such machines having a pantograph system.

-In such machines it is desirable not only to carry out light engraving work, but also heavier engraving work, in which case the machine is subjected to greater stress.

In engraving machines in which the pantograph system is utilised for light engraving work, preference has been given to light constructions of the pantograph with a long lever guide system for large tields of coverage for the engraving head. For heavier work on the other hand it was necessary to use the machine in a more stable construction and with reduced telds of coverage, since otherwise disadvantageous inuences such as vibrations easily occur. Not every organisation is in a position, however, to purchase two separate machines for such work.

The present invention aims at obviating this drawback, and to this end consists in an engraving machine, wherein the engraving head-is disposed on an articulated system having at least two arms, ch-aracterised in that one of said arms, preferably the arm upon which the head is mounted, is variable in length and is hence capable of being adapted to the size of the required tield of coverage.

In machines having a pantograph system, the articulated system is mounted on the latter.

For pure milling work, however, the invention proposes to dispose the head arm independently of the pantograph system on the machine column so that for this work it merely has to be drawn out of its position of rest and be secured as desired, while the pantograph system may be rockable into an unobstructive position. Provision is, of course, lalso made to provide, if desired, a second engraving head with an extensible arm, in order to reduce setting-up times.

It is advantageous, particularly for different recurrent repetition work, to provide according to the invention at least one adjustment scale for the variable arm. In this connection it is advantageous to allow in the scale division for the largest elds of coverage desired at any time.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings Which illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example, one embodiment of engraving machine having a pantograph equipped with an additional articulation system according to the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 shows the machine in plan view;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the two-part carrying arm;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modied embodiment.

1 indicates generally the pantograph system of the engraving machine, 2 is a stylus and 3 an engraving head or milling cutter. 4 is a pattern table, and 5 a working table.

2,925,756 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 The pantograph system 1 determines the motions of the suspension lever system 6, 7 which supports the holding means 3 for an engraving tool. A member 11 is secured to the machine frame 9 by two bolts 11a and carries another member 10 on which a pivot pin 12 is mounted. Pivot pin 12 supports suspension lever means 7 for turning movement. Suspension lever means 6 includes two parts 6 and 6". Part 6" is articulated to lever 7 by a pivot pin 13, and is connected to part 6' for sliding movement. As best seen in Fig. 3, part 6 sldes in a corresponding groove of part 6" so that the length of suspension lever 6 can be adjusted. A holding means 3 for an engraving tool is mounted on the free end of lever 6. A scale 8 is provided on part 6' to indicate the klength of the adjusted lever 6. Instead of making lever adjustable, it is also possible to make lever 7 of adjustable length.

The pantograph system 1 includes a lever 20 which carries the tracing means Z, a pair of parallel levers 1b, and a member 1a connecting the free ends of levers 1b. A slide piece 14 is connected to member 1a for sliding movement along the same and is connected to the holder means 3 of the engraving tool.

Due to this construction, the movements of the holding means 3 with the engraving head are controlled by the pantograph system 1 in accordance with the position of the tracing means 2. However, the pressure on the engraving tool is taken up by the suspension levers 6 and 7, and not transmitted to the pantograph system. This is due to the fact that all turning axes of the pantograph lever system a`nd of the suspension lever system are parallel to each other.

When the length of. suspension lever 6 is adjusted by shifting parts 6 and 6" relative to each other, the area in which the engraving tool can be used is varied in accordance with the size of the workpiece, and the engraving pressure required. The ratio of the pantograph system, however, is not changed by an adjustment of the length of lever 6.

When lever 6 is shortened, heavier engraving work can be carried out within a smaller area, and when lever 6 is lengthened, light engraving work can be carried out within a greater area.

The embodiment of Fig. 4 shows the use of the machine for milling operations in which no pantograph system or suspension system is required. An attaching means 9a is xedly secured to the machine frame 9, and has a shape matching the groove in member 6. Member 6' can be separated from member 6, and mounted on member 9a in a suitable position with respect to table S so that milling operation can be carried out on table 5. The position of the tool in holding means 3 relative to the workpiece can be determined by shifting the table, or by shifting member 6' on member 9a. When table 5 is reciprocated in a conventional manner with the workpiece, milling operations can be elfected, while the tool is very rigidly supported.

I claim:

l. In an engraving machine, in combination, supporting means; a suspension lever system mounted on the supporting means for movement about an axis and including at least two articulated lever means extending in a direction perpendicular to said axis and being turnable relative to each other about an axis parallel to said axis, one of said lever means being manually adjustable for varying the length of said one lever means in a direction perpendicular to said axis, said suspension lever system including holder means mounted on one of said lever means for supporting an engraving tool extending in the same direction as said axes so that said suspension system rigidly takes up the pressure acting on the tool While permitting movement of the tool in a plane perpendicular to said axes; articulated pantograph means mounted on said supporting. means for movement about an axis extending in the same direction as said axes of said suspension lever system,y said pantograph means in cluding a plurality of members' connected to each other forV turning movement about atl least one axisl parallel to said axes and means'for supporting a' tracing means extending in direction' of said axes;y and means connecting said holder means withl one of said members of said pantograph means for movement with: same whereby the- 4. An engraving machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one adjustable lever means incudes two parts connected to each other for sliding movement in longitudinal direction of said one adjustable lever means and perpendicular to said axes.

5. An engraving machine yas set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said two parts of said adjustable lever means has a graduated' scale',- and the other of said two parts has an indicating means cooperating with said scale.

References Ci the fleiofl this; patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tiff" 

